Good Morning, Chairman Gray and Honorable Councilmembers.

I am Devon Brown, Director of the DC Department of Corrections.  I have been asked to testify this morning on the implementation of capital projects in the Department of Corrections (DOC) during fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2008 to date.  As you can well imagine, physical plants are vital components of any correctional system.  A well maintained, properly operating physical plant plays a major role in assuring the orderly, safe, and secure custody of the inmate population while promoting conditions which are conductive to staff proficiency and public safety.  Moreover, when a correctional facility’s physical plant is functioning as expected successful compliance with constitutional standards can be more fully realized.

DOC’s capital improvement program has 23 authorized projects, 14 of which were active as of January 2008.  Eighty-five percent (85 percent) of the active projects are dedicated to the upkeep of the CDF.  Slightly over $31 million has been allocated to active projects through January of this year, with an outstanding funding balance of almost $23 million.

During fiscal 2007, DOC completed four initiatives associated with its capital program:

• Selected a nationally acclaimed A&E Firm with extensive experience in correctional facility design.  This firm will be collaborating with DOC on future project designs, including the Inmate Processing Center (IPC).
• Upgraded the lighting system at CDF.
• Upgraded the plumbing infrastructure at CDF.
• Renovated elevators at CDF.

At this juncture, I will be pleased to address any questions you may have on DOC’s capital budget programs.